Press for molding plastic articles



A. Y. TUCKER AND1. E. CORGDON.

PRESS EoR MoLlRG :PLASTIC ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 5:9] 7'.

by 2H/mmm A. Y.V TUCKER AND I. EIC'ONGDON. IC ARTICLES. 27,19I7.

PRESS FOR IVIOLDING PLAST APPLICATION FILED SEPT.

Patented Mar. 9,1920.

SHEETS`QIIEET 2 In Vemof:

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

ALBERT Y. TUCKER, F MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, AND JOHN E. CONGDON, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY ASSIGNORS TO THE NEW YORK BELTING & 'PACKING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

Speci'cation of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. e, ieee.

(lontinuation of application Serial No. 152,170, led March 3, 1917. This application led September 27, 1917.

. Y Serial No. 193,480.

This invention relates to multiple pressesl and particularly to presses of that type em ployed for vulcanizing molded rubber goods. Such presses customarily embody a plurality of platens spaced apart to provide intervem ingopenings adapted for the reception of molds to be operated upon. In operating 2O such presses. the several platens are loaded with molds suitably charged with the mate-` rial to be vulcanized; the press is then closed and the molds are subjected to the required deUree of heat imparted by the press .for a *'25 su cient period of time to effect the desired vulcanization. `The period of time required for vulcanization varies depending upon certain requirements and conditions, for instance,'rubber compounded for one type of 30 slice soles requires a period of ten minutes to vulcanize, while rubber compounded for other types ofsoles may .be vulcanized in a period of seven minutes.

. An object of the present invention is to 55 provide a multiple vulcanizing press and feeding means therefor adapted to take care of the full output of two or more operators working on different sides of the press,

thereby obviating the-periods of delay here- `40 .to'fore incident tothe operation of multiple presses. l y

In accomplishing this object a series of jmolds is provided for each opening in the press, the arrangement of each series being such that while one ormore ofthe molds thereoffis confined withinthe press the re,- mainder will be disposed withouty thefpress in a position permitting loading and unloadling. lThus while one portion of the series 50.1.is being subjected to the action ofthe press vthe remainder thereof is disposedwwithout the press in a position permittigigrits contents to be removed andra; 'nerr-charge installed.-

f are removed from `the press.

The several series of molds are preferably so arranged that their outwardly disposed portions will be alternately positioned on different sides of the press so that when one operator from his side of" the press is loading a portion of one series the operator4 on the other side of the press will be 60 unloading a portion of the next adjacent series, and likewise when one operator is removingthat portion of one series which has been subjected to the action of the press the operatoren a different side of the press will be withdrawing that portion of the next adjacent s'eries which has been subjected to the action o-f the press. To attain this end each series of molds is mounted for movement `along suitable runways arranged in aline` ment with the openings in the press. In the preferred embodiment two runways are provided for each opening, one being disposed on the oppositeside of the press from the other. It is to be understood, however, that the number of runways provided for each opening maybe varied and that their arrangement may be modified as desired.

Although in some forms of construction each of the molds of a series may be entirely independent one from the other, in the preferred embodiment of the invention it is desirable to couple them together so that they may be moved in unison whereby when one portion of a series is removed from its respective opening the remainder thereof will be simultaneously inserted into the opening. By coupling the molds together the operation of loa-ding and unloading the press will be greatly Vfacilitated as alternate series of 90 molds may be moved in opposite directions so as to insert newly charged molds into the press at the same time that those molds which have been previously operated upon Another advantage of this construction is that vthe workmen stationed at different sides of the press may be engaged in charging and disvchargingthe outwardly disposed portion of each alternate series while.- the remaining portions of such series `are being operated upon. by the press.

While it is feasible to have each series of molds entirely independentof the others it is preferred to provide means for Vcoupling los lthefseries together in' pairs so'that when one series is moved the companion series will be slmultaneously moved in an opposite direction. In presses having more than two openings the respective series of molds may be connected together in such a way that alternate series will be moved simultaneously.

As it is desired that each operator be continuously "employed in discharging and charging molds the size of the press and consequently the number of molds used may be so varied that the number of molds disposed without the press will be such as to require a period of time to charge and recharge corresponding to the period of time required to elfect the desired vulcanization of the articles in the ress. This result may also be accomplished y varying the number of openings in the press. If a press having a relatively largenumber of openings is used each operator may take care of several series of molds. I

Having set forth some of the important features of the invention a detail description of one of the preferred embodiments ther of will now be given, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press provided with the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the pressing members, molds, carriers, and means connecting the carriers.

The press shown in the drawings comprises superposed platens or pressing members 10, 11, and 12. The upper pressing member 10 is secured to a base 13 by tie rods 14. The' lower pressing member 12 is supported upon a ram 15. The intermediate pressing member 11 is provided on the side with projections 16 which bear on stops -17 carried by rods 18 and normally support the member at its lowest limit of movement. These parts are characteristic of an ordinary vulcanizing press in connection with .which the present embodiment of the'invention will be described. In presses of this type means is provided to heat the pressing members but for the sake of brevity a'description of the same will be dispensed with.

In carrying out the invention we provide superposed mold carriers 19 and 20, ar-

ranged in tiers,v or superposed with respect to each other, the upper carrier 19 being positioned to move through the opening b etween the upper pressing member 10 and the .intermediate pressing member 11, and the lower carrier 20 being positioned to move lthrough the opening between the intermediate pressing member 11 and the lower pressing member 12. The upper carrier is adapted to support a series of duplicate molds 2l and .22,` and the lower carrier is adapted to vuse of such molds.

support a series of molds 23 and 24. In the present embodiment, recessed molds suitable for use in vulcanizing rubber' soles are illus-l rier is formed with depressions to retain and locate the corresponding molds, as best shown at 21 and 22 in Fig. 2. Each carrier vis of such length, and the molds are so spaced apart thereon, that when the carrier is moved to withdraw one mold from between the pressing members, the mating mold is set between the pressing members.

In further carryingout the invention the superposed carriers 19 and 2O are connected together for simultaneous movement in opposite directions whereby to dispose certain of the molds of the respective series between the pressing members and others outside of the pressing members on opposite sides of the press. To accomplish this, endless connectors are provided, one on each end of the press, each comprising a sprocket chain 25, running over sprocket wheels 26 and 27 carried by brackets 28 fixed to the tie rods 14. The upper portion of the chain is connected by a pin 29 to the upper mold carrier 19 at about the center of the edge thereof, and the lower portion of the chain is connected by a pin 30 tothe lower mold carrier 2O at about the center of the edge thereof. Opposed pairs of sprocket wheels 26, 27 of both endless connectors are mounted on common shafts 26', 27so that the two runs of the endless connectors will move in unison in opposite directions.

By now referring to Fig. 3 it will be Seen that when the upper mold carrier 19 is moved toward the right the mold 22 is withdrawn from between the pressing members Preferably each car- 10 and 11 and the mold 21 is set between i said pressing members. At the same time the endless connectors have moved the lower mold carrier 20 to the left so that the mold '24 is withdrawn from between the pressing.

22 and 24,- as sho'wn by dotted lines, willv then `be loutside of the press on opposite sides of the press where operators working simultaneously remove the pressed product from them, and charge the molds with the requisite material to be subsequently pressed. By reversing the above described movement of the parts, the mold carriers withdraw the pressed molds from between the pressing members and simultaneously set the charged molds between the pressing members.

The mold carriers may be moved manually if desired, but preferably are power moved, and to attain 'this end there is provided on each end of the press a cylinder 31 for a fluid ,under pressure, the cylinder being equipped with a piston which is connected to the lower mold carrier 20 by a rod 32 and a bracket 33. The fluid under pressure is admitted to the ends of the cylinder through pipes 34, 35 and 36, there being a valve 37 in the pipe 35 for selectively admitting the fluid to either end of the cylinder and releasing it from the other end according to the desired direction oi' movement of the mold carriers. Pipe 36 carries oil exhaust.

For supporting the weight of the molds when outside of the press, superposed supports, such as runways 38 and 39, are arranged on oppositesides of the press as best shown in Fig. 1. The upper runways 38 are disposed vjust below the path of movement of the upper mold carrier, and the lower runways 39 are disposed just below the path of movement of the lower mold carrier. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when a mold is supported by the upper runway on one side of i the press, a mold will be supported at the same time by the lower runway on the opposite side of the press. To provide access to the mold supported by the lower runway the runway above it must be displaced and to attain this end, each upper runway is preferably mounted at one end on pivot pins l() secured to stationary brackets 41 s0 that the runway may be swung upward as shown in Fig. 1 and expose the mold on the runway beneath it. Preferably the free end of each pivoted upper runway is supported by legs 42 that bear upon the runway beneath it, and also the free end oi' each lower runway is preferably rigidly supported by legs 43.

In certain forms of construction the mold carriers 19 and 2O may be dispensed with, the molds being supported directly on the runways. Various lother types of runways than that illustrated may also be used, for instance cach runway may consist of two parallel tracks adaptedto support the molds. If desired the lower runways 2O may be made longer than the upper ones 19 so that the lower series of moldshmay be moved to a position in advance of the upper series permitting the operators to discharge and charge it without the necessity oit' lifting the upper runways.

This application is a continuation of our allowed application, Serial No. 152,170, filed March 3, 1917.

W'hile we have described some of the pren i'erred embodiments of our invention it is to be understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrilicing any of the advantages 1. The combination in a press, of superposed pressing members,- superposed movable mold carriers' adapted to carry a plurality of molds, and means connecting said carriers for simultaneous movement in opposite directions whereby to dispose certain of the molds between the pressing members and others outside of the pressing members on opposite sides of the press.

2. The combination in a press, of superposed pressing members, superposed movable mold carriers adapted to carry a plurality of molds, and an endless connector having its upper portion connected with one carrier and its lower portion with another carrier and serving to connect saidcarriers forsimultaneous movement in opposite directicns whereby to dispose certain of the molds between the pressing members and others outside oi the pressing members on opposite sides of the press.

3. The combination in a press, of superposed pressing members, superposed movable mold 'carriers adapted to carry a plurality of molds, upper and lower supports for the carriers disposed outside ofy the pressing members on opposite sides oiA the press, means permitting of said upper supports being displaced to permit access to said lower supports, and means connecting said carriers for simultaneous movement in opposite directions whereby to dispose certain of the molds between the pressing members and others outside of the pressing meinbers on corresponding supports on opposite sides of the press. y

4. The combination v in a press, of superposed pressing members, superposed movable mold carriers. adapted to carry a plurality of molds, upper and lower supports for the carriers disposed outside of the pressing members and on opposite sides oi the press, pivots at one end-of each'upper support upon which the support may be swung up to expose the lower support beneath it, and' means connecting said carriers for simultaneous movement in opposite directions whereby to dispose certain of the molds between the pressing members and others outside of the pressing members on corresponding supports on opposite sides of the press.

5. The combination in a press, of superposed pressing members, superposed movable mold carriers adapted to carry a plurality'oi' molds, fluid operative means for moving the carriers, and an endless connector having its upper portion connected 'with one carrier and its lower portion connected with another carrier and serving to connect said carriers for simultaneous movement in opposite directions whereby to dispose certain of the molds between the pressing members and others outside of the pressing members on opposite sides of the press.

6. The combination in a press, of superiso y posed pressing members, superposed movable mold carriers adapted to carry a plurality of molds, upper and lower supports for the carriers disposed outside of the pressing members on opposite sides of the press, fluid operative means for moving said carriers, means permitting of said uppery supports being displaced to permit said access to-said lower supports, and means connecting said carriers for simultaneous movement in opposite directions whereby to dispose certain of the molds between the pressing members and others outside of the pressing members on corresponding supports on opposite sides of the press.

7. The combination in a press of superposed pressing members, superposed movable mold carriers adapted to carry a plurality of molds, upper and lower supports for the carriers disposed outside of the pressing members and on opposite sides of the press, pivots at one end of each upper support upon which the support may be swung up to expose the lower support beneath it, fluid operative means for moving the carriers, and means connecting said carriers for simultaneous movement in opposite directions whereby to dispose certain of the molds between the pressing members and others outside of the pressing members on 31 corresponding supports onv opposite sides of the press.

8. In a multiple press,

in combination, a

plurality of superposed pressing members, a plurality of mold carriers each operatively 35 supported for movement between contiguous pressing members, and means for simultaneously moving said mold carriers in opposite directions to ydispose certain of the molds between the pressing pressingmembers in an accesposition on o said last name-d m outside of the sible members and others 40 yposite sides of the press, ans including an endless' ALBERT Y. TUCKER.

Signed at Passaic,

September, 1917.

N. J., this 24th day of JOHN E. CONGDON, 

